West Indian veteran Dwayne Smith signs with Perth Scorchers

VETERAN West Indian batsman Dwayne Smith will be charged with the responsibility of getting the Perth Scorchers off to flying starts this summer after signing with the T20 franchise.

Smith, 30, became the second international player to join the side for this summer's Big Bash following the announcement that ace death bowler Alfonso Thomas would rejoin the Scorchers.

Smith owns a modest international record, with just two scores above 33 in 17 T20 Internationals, but boasts impressive recent form after being named player of the series for Mumbai at the Champions League Twenty20 in India.

"I'm really happy to have signed with the Perth Scorchers - they look to have a great squad of players with a good mixture of youth and experience," Smith said in a statement ahead of his arrival in Perth next month.

"The BBL is a tournament all players want to be involved, in so I'm really looking forward to joining the lads in Perth and making an impact.

"Hopefully I can get the side off to a good start at the top of the order and continue on my good form from the recent Champions League in India.

"Perth is a beautiful city, so hopefully I can experience a bit of what it has to offer in between the cricket."

Scorchers coach Justin Langer described Smith as "a great addition" and said he hoped the batsman would prove to be destructive at the top of the order.

The Scorchers also announced a contract extension for key batsman Shaun Marsh, who will now be tied to the franchise until the end of the 2015-16 season.

Perth's Big Bash campaign begins against Brisbane at the Gabba on December 22.